Exposed brick walls are something everyone loves to have in their lives. Just think about how warm and cozy they make you feel, the stories they tell, and how naturally beautiful they are in their raw form. They really do have the best personality and I've got proof.

I would love to cook up some old world italian cuisine in this industrial kitchen and tell stories about our travels through Tuscany.

The guests can stay in this room curated with pieces from travels around the world.

The brick reveals layers of history as it's exposed from beneath the plaster. The modern elements create a perfect juxtaposition.

Industrial dining at it's finest. It feels like a restaurant in the middle of your home! I love the contemporary chandelier design above the table.

Who wouldn't want to study in this library for hours and hours?! Oh the places you would go and things you would learn!

Working late hours in this office wouldn't seem like that big of a deal I don't suppose.

Moving into the garage couldn't be better!

Painted brick and cozy eclectic furniture truly make this room a conversation piece, with a modern pendant light above.

When you want your brick to be more you...just paint it pink!

Or seafoam green!

At this current time my fascination is with white brick walls! And... I've found a product that would allow every single one of us to have a brick wall! There is a new product on the market called Panel Piedra that comes in approx. 3' x 4' panels that can easily be installed over any wall. My white brick wall would need to be surrounded by natural woods, steel, bright colors, bold patterns, and soft organic shapes. It would look a little something like this...

So many goods are transported via container daily and these containers have shelf life just like everything else. After about 10 uses they can no longer be used and they end up piling up at ports all over. The use of shipping containers for construction is a brilliant idea. Although it is not the newest idea out there, innovative uses are popping up everyday and are taking the world by storm. Whether it be an entire shipping container mall with pop up retails shops, a restaurant opening up in Times Square, or hotel rooms inside a large warehouse. The simple construction allows these retail stores to pop up on almost any vacant urban lot for any amount of time. They are also continuing to be integrated into interiors of modern industrial spaces to reduce the construction costs, bring efficiency, and affordability to innovative green buildings.

Boxpark Shoreditch, said to be the world's first pop-up mall is constructed entirely out of recycled containers. 61 containers are combined to create a multi-level structure with spaces for both shopping and relaxing. This idea is wonderful for small businesses that cannot afford long leases and want to take an innovative approach into the market. Look for many more of these structures to be making an appearance in your neighborhood in the very near future!

25hours Hotel Hafencity in Hamburg, designed by Stephen Williams Associates, has used a shipping container in the lobby to enclose the conference center just off the main lobby. As you enter you feel like you're about to go on an adventure in a shipping warehouse beside the harbor in Hamburg. Everything from the plywood box desk, the industrial luggage trolleys, and industrial lighting make this destination a true adventure.

Snack Box, designed by Aedifica, takes the food truck off its wheels and stations it in one the most iconic spots in the world. It is an entirely self-sufficient structure and after a long day in Times Square it can easily be closed up and moved on. The visual identity and branding allow the structure to have a bold presence in this saturated environment. This is a true innovation for container architecture and usage in an urban setting.

When this travel and art obsessed San Francisco couple bought the 3,200 square foot former Chinese laundry and tooth powder factory they knew that had to do something incredible with it. How do we create volumes and rooms in this space without breaking it up into individual spaces and blocking the natural light that shines through the unit? Shipping Containers....of course!

The original idea for the guest room in the middle of the space was a railroad car, but the shipping container quickly became the answer! Copper piping, industrial sconces, and teak accents evoke the utilitarian feel of the cargo. Everything about this space is perfect to me!

Even Starbucks has tapped into the container market. The Reclamation Drive-Thru container coffee shop is part of Starbucks new branding strategy to encourage green building, reduce operating costs, and continue to stay innovative in their approach to environmental design in retail. I like the direction that they are going.

Concrete is the trendy product for home building if you want that modern urban-style aesthetic. It's a very raw material that provides clean lines and an open canvas for any home decor and furniture you decide to pair it with. Would you be surprised to learn that this living room wall (above) is not concrete but a wall covering? This image below is another style in the same Tom Haga Concrete Collection.

If you do have the option of selecting the architectural materials for your home or condo during the building stages, this super modern bathroom is a great design idea. The typographical screening concept paired with the concrete is also a really cool idea.

These tiles from Daniel Ogassian are a great option whether you're designing from scratch or just re-designing a single room. They can help you add concrete in a big way or just a little corner.

This ottoman gives the appearance of concrete without the heaviness. It's constructed out of clay with a slate finish made to look like concrete... perfect near a side chair in an urban-style loft.

So, whether you're building your home from scratch and you have input on the architectural materials.... or you just want to add a little detail, there's lots of fun ways to incorporate concrete into your urban-style decor.

My love for acrylic in interior design started with a stay at the Hudson Hotel in New York a few years ago and it has stayed with me ever since. I think acrylic is the perfect contrast against natural materials. It adds life and light without being too heavy or dominating. It's a perfect element of the unexpected whether it be clear or colored. It mixes perfectly with modern interiors and contrasts beautifully with traditional. Here are some amazing interiors to prove it!

The clear acrylic chairs work well with the natural elements of this kitchen and breakfast room. By being visually unobtrusive they make the space feel larger and the modern lighting make a statement.

The fireplace is the main focus of this space and the acrylic chairs do a great job of complimenting that. I love how the fireplace can be seen through the chair at the end of the table. Mixing transparent orange chairs and clear chairs is also a nice touch in this modern organic space.

This table let's the chrome lighting make the statement and let's the floors shine through. It really brings light into this rich setting.

Lighting is one of the most important stages in any design project. Different designers approach it in their own way, but it should be considered toward the beginning of the project. If you are making selections for your own home, first try to think about how much light you will need. After evaluating your lighting needs, then you are able to decide how many fixtures you will want, the scale and what style you prefer. You want the lights to be effective, look good, but you also want them to coordinate with the rest of your decor.

When it comes to loft living, which is quickly gaining in popularity, lighting is very important. Lofts are typically designed with a modern aesthetic, which means minimal furniture and the less furnishings you have, the more important each item becomes. Typically lofts have lots of big windows and natural light, but the functionality of light fixtures are still important. The gorgeous loft pictured above demonstrates a warehouse-style approach to their lighting solutions. The fixtures are installed in a grid pattern, however the fixtures themselves are modern flush pendants rather than track lighting. The scale of a fixture is also very important. Considering the large wood beams and open space in this loft, the fixtures could not be too small.

This white and gray loft features light fixtures that contribute to the clean decor without distracting from it. This lighting design also demonstrates a fun alternative to ceiling fixtures such as chandeliers and pendants.

The floor lamp has a long reaching arm to cover all of the seating area as an alternative to hanging a ceiling fixture. From a design perspective, it's perfectly acceptable to hang chandeliers or pendants from high ceilings, but there are other cool options as seen here.

This wide open space doesn't include a lot of lighting, but the fixtures that were selected provide a little color contrast to the rest of the space while pairing perfectly with the dining table. Forget having an issue with high ceilings at an angle, it's no problem here. This lighting design is perfect in both function and style.

Whether you're designing a new space or just changing out the lighting in your home, be sure to make it a priority. Don't forget to consider function and scale first and then move on to style. Even though we all know selecting the prettiest fixture is always the most fun part!